Former PMs Mahathir, Muhyiddin sued over axed HSR project
They are accused of abuse of public office as well as negligence.
A man has filed a lawsuit against former prime ministers Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Muhyiddin Yassin for alleged abuse of public office and negligence over the cancellation of the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail (HSR) project.
Mohd Hatta Sanuri, 47, who filed the suit through Messrs Mohaji, Hazury & Ismail on Dec 30 last year, also named former minister in the Prime Minister's Department (economy) Mustapa Mohamed, former transport minister Wee Ka Siong and the government as defendants.
In his statement of claim, Hatta said Mahathir, who was the seventh prime minister, committed tort of misfeasance in public office when he decided to postpone the HSR project, causing the government and the Malaysian people to pay compensation of almost RM46 million to the Singapore government.
He claimed that Muhyiddin, who was the eighth prime minister, also committed tort of misfeasance in public office by terminating the project, causing the Malaysian government and the people to pay RM320,270,519.24 in compensation for the cancellation of the bilateral agreement between Malaysia and Singapore.
Hatta claimed that Mustapha, who was responsible for managing the project, committed a similar offence by shelving the project, while Wee committed tort of misfeasance in public office by denying Malaysians their right to a first-class transport system with the cancellation of the HSR project.
He is seeking a court order to declare the cancellation of the project null and void, as well as for the defendants to pay RM1 million in compensation to him and all Malaysians for wrongfully and negligently cancelling the HSR project.
On Jan 1, 2021, Malaysia and Singapore announced the termination of the 350km HSR project after failing to reach an agreement on the changes proposed by Malaysia before the expiry of the project agreement on Dec 31, 2020.
Accordingly, Malaysia paid Singapore S$102.8 million (RM320.27 million) for costs incurred for the development of the HSR project.
The HSR would have shortened the travelling time from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore to 90 minutes.
The case management of the suit has been set for Feb 2 before High Court senior assistant registrar Nur Shasha Hidayah Nor Azahar.
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